She was alone again, but hopefully not for long, having paused on her journey for a rest. And this time the rest wasn't just because she was a little lazy, or scared. It was because of pain. She'd stepped on a thorn that had pierced through her pad and now walking was too painful to manage in great quantaties. Which was why she now lay beneath the boughs of a beautiful tree, grooming her paw vigorously.
Grooming it seemed to help somehow, and now that the thorn had been removed it was feeling a lot better. Even still, she judged it would be best to rest it for a few more days. She remembered what her mother had told her, about taking care of one's self and not ignoring pains. For those pains could become worse and end a life.
Hera did not want her life to end.
"Kairi" is available (20:15:21)
My Azi army begins today!
"Kairi" (20:19:10): Kutakia was wondering. He was always wondering, never seeming to settle in one place for more than a couple of days. He wasn't sure why - he remembered his mother having a distinct home, and only venturing away to hunt. Kuta didn't remember much of his mother, and blinking, surprised he'd thought of her. Usually his thoughts only drifted to his mother at night, whislt he was watching the stars. She always told him pretty stories about the stars.
He seemed to dance across the savannah, a steady rhythm beating in his head which he walked to, and which made him jump hurriedly from one foot to the other every few steps, for fear of missing a beat. He grinned somewhat goofily, aware of how silly he looked. But he didn't care - maybe it would make a passer by smile. Kuta did like making others smile.
But the leopard was so consumed by maintaining his beat, he didn't see the leopardess, sitting under the nearby tree.
Kimaria33 (20:22:54): But Hera saw him.
Her head lifted and both round ears shifted forwards to pin upon him. A smile lit her face that moved up to shine in her eyes. A leopard! Nothing could make her heart feel more light and lofty than to set eyes on her own kind. And here he was, out of nowhere, like a blessing. She would have rose if her paw had allowed it, so, instead she released a pleasant, surprised chirp and waved her tail so that the grasses around her rustled.
"Hello over there!"
"Kairi" (20:24:34): A chirp? Didn't birds chirp?
Kuta turned, expecting to see some feathered creature, perhaps fleeing from a jackal or something. But no, instead he was faced by one of his own kind. Admittedly of a rather brighter colour than he himself, but there was no doubting she was a leopard. He smiled brightly, bounding over, pleased to have met another. The savannah was usually so empty, and he did get lonely sometimes. Kutakia was always grateful for company. "Hello!" he replied, his smile ever-charming, "I'm Kutakia!"
Kimaria33 (20:26:59): Her eyes glimmered and she lifted her head a little higher, shifting her body so that she was not pressing her weight on that injured paw. "I'm Hera. I wasn't expecting another leopard to be around here." Though admittedly she didn't know the area very well.
"But...well, I'm new here. I'm on my way to a place where lots of leopards live, but my guide was forced to leave me here a while..." Her ears drooped. "Since I was clumsy and went and hurt my paw."
Her eyes flickered beyond him, to the landscape. "Do you...live here?"
"Kairi" (20:31:29): Hera? "That's a pretty name," he commented, speaking his thoughts without really thinking. Thinking out loud, was that what you called it? Whatever it was, Kuta had the tendency to do it quite a lot. He'd been told numerous times to think before he spoke. So far though, he hadn't learnt his lesson. "Me neither - you don't see many creatures out on the savannah. It's nice to meet someone, leopard or otherwise."
His smile was always there, ears perked as he listened with genuine interest. Kuta loved seeing others smile, and the way Hera's eyes glimmered was quite pretty. He cocked his head to the left curiously as she spoke again, his ears drooping just a little at the mention of her injury, "You're hurt?" He lowered his head, sniffing gently at her paw, nose wrinkling a little at the coppery scent of blood. She must've gotten a thorn stuck in it. His decision was made up in a millisecond, more of the not really thinking things through, "I can stay while it heals, if you like. Keep you company."
He shook his head at her question, "No, I wander. Bit of a wanderer, me. I don't like staying in one place for too long. Gets boring." The subject was soon changed back to her, though, Kuta being the gentleman as always, "Have you eaten?"
"Kairi" (20:36:44): Eeee, 4 cubs for Chache <3
Kimaria33 (20:37:24): She wriggled a little, feeling embarrassed. "Thank you." And then she looked even more embarrassed. "Well...lions are a little scary. I much prefer meeting leopards than...than those big cats."
Her head tilted slightly, touched by his gesture of kindness to stay with her and keep her company. Company was what she craved more than anything in the world. She was a social butterfly, but currently her wings were wounded and she had been alone.
"I'd love that." She replied. "I don't like being alone, especially in a place I don't know very well." Her ears perked a little. "I'm only a little bit hurt. It should heal up no problem in a couple of days."
And as he spoke his last words, her stomach replied for her, growling loudly. She looked up at him sheepishly. "Not...not for a while."
Kimaria33 (20:37:2 cool : ( eee congrats!! )
"Kairi" (20:40:43): Lions? Scary? Kuta chuckled - he wasn't really scared by many. Intimidated by some, perhaps...and that crazy black and pink cheetah had freaked him out a little. But from experience if you were friendly to them, they were friendly back. He was too naive and trusting to think badly of anyone, before even meeting them. "I wouldn't say scary - if you try talking to them, they're perfectly pleasant."
He smiled. It was settled then. He'd be staying here for a few days. He nodded in understanding to her lonliness confessions, and smiled as she spoke about her injury once more, "Make sure it does heal - otherwise you'll only hurt it worse by walking on it when it's not properly healed." He knew that from experience. Old injuries weren't nice to reawaken. Her growling stomach made him laugh, though - a full laugh, not a chuckle - "Shall I go catch us something, hmm? What d'you fancy, Hera?"
Kimaria33 (20:43:09): Perfectly pleasant? She remembered one lion with his ice-blue eyes and dark pelt. His snarls and those huge teeth had stayed with her mind since childhood and it was not an image that would easily go away. No...it'd be a long time before she could bring herself to face a lion without first running away.
"That's exactly what my Mother said to me." Hera replied, smiling. "Its good advice."
And then... "Oh. Um...well...anything, really." Her ears dipped bashfully once again. "I'm...not really a fussy eater."
"Kairi" (20:45:56): Her mother? Kuta smiled. Mothers were wonderful things to have, and he did miss his at times. He was sure she was somewhere, thinking of him, just as he was thinking of her. Perhaps they'd meet again, someday. He might just wander across her, innocent as day. He nodded, "I don't usually get told I give good advice - thank you."
Anything? He grinned, delivering another nod, "I'll be back shortly." And he was gone. He ran fast, especially considering the temperature. Usually he'd lope along at some slow, steady pace, but now he had purpose. He was running for a reason, and that reason gave him energy. It was no wonder he returned soon after, two hares clamped in his jaw. He dropped them at her paws, grinning like a goon. "These alright?"
Kimaria33 (20:49:32): She smiled as he went and, when alone, thought how fortunate it was that she would meet a leopard. And not just any leopard, but a kindly one at that. She felt comfortable around him, trusting of his company and she waited eagerly to see him again.
He returned sooner than she could have ever imagined and not alone, either. He had his catches with him and, though she tried, she could not stop her mouth from watering at the sight of food.
She shifted again, trying to stand, but decided instead to sit on a hip, her wounded paw carefully outstretched.
She leaned towards him, purring, and pressed her nose beneath his chin. "I'll have to repay you someday, Kutakia." It warmed her heart at such selflessness. "I cannot thank you enough." Her eyes fell to the hares and, after seeking some sort of sign that she could eat, did so with incredible speed.
"Kairi" (20:52:13): She began to move, as if to stand, and he shook his head fiercely, an involuntary growl escaping him before he caught himself. He ignored it, though, moving the hares closer to her instead, flopping onto the ground beside her, raising sand as he did. Her purrs comforted him and he smiled, returning them with purrs of his own, nipping her ear fondly. He did enjoy company, especially friendly company. Hera was a very nice leopardess, and quite pretty too. He was fortunate to have met her. Plus he was helping her - his good deed for a day completed.
"No repayment is needed," he stated, shaking his head, "It's fine, honest. Just eat." And boy did she. He blinked, surprised with the speed she ate.
Kimaria33 (20:54:53): She felt...fat. Ugh, she shouldn't have eaten so fast! Hadn't her Mother also warned her about that, too? She shook her head as if trying to recall the memory and slowly returned her fiery eyes back to the male, tilting her head again as she spotted his surprised expression.
"Um...I think I was hungrier than I first thought." She laughed.
"So, Kutakia, tell me, where have your travels taken you? Have you seen many places? Been in many dangerous situations?"
"Kairi" (20:57:26): Two pairs of eyes met, and Kuta burst into laughter as she did, finding it more amusing that disgusting. Why would eating food be disgusting? It was merely instinct - they had to eat to survive, after all. He'd been called a beast before, for eating quickly. But hey, when you were fighting for your food, you tended not to care what others thought.
Her questions surprised him, but he soon composed himself, pausing before he replied, "I've been many places, seen many things. Beautiful waterfalls, rabid beasts. I...honestly can't describe it. It's wonderful, though."
Kimaria33 (20:59:50): "I wish I had more of an adventurer's spirit." Hera replied softly. "I would love to see the world. Dearly love it. But...I've always been afraid of the outside world. Odd, really, considering my whole family were born travellers. I haven't seem them in many, many years now. The moment they were old enough they were off, but I was afraid to leave the jungle and...the only reason I did was because I was so terribly lonely. I needed to find friends...and, to find a mate and a family."
She paused. "I guess it seems odd to you, but, the thought of travelling all alone...it...its a scary and lonely thing to me."
"Kairi" (21:02:1 cool : Adventurers spirit? He nudged her shoulder, grinning, "Everyone has the spirit, they just need to find it. It's there, inside you, if you look deep enough." He purred, as if trying to reassure her, "The world's not as scary as you'd think. Go out with an open mind and you'll find far more beauty than you'd expect."
"It's not odd, I completely understand. But you never get anywhere without taking a chance." He smiled brightly, nuzzling her cheek affectionately, "You met me. Wasn't that good? Think about how many more good things you'll experience if you take those first steps."
Kimaria33 (21:04:20): She nodded slowly. "I...I guess so." She was a timid creature really, but one who desperately wished to be brave and spontaneous. "Perhaps someday I'll find it in myself to go out there. I think...maybe, if I weren't alone. If I had someone with me, it would be easier. But all the leopards I know...they are solitary creatures, as we should be...I suppose."
She purred, pressing her head up against his neck.
"I guess we can't have everything we want. Adventure and random encounters or a settled, boring but social-filled life."
She wondered what would be more important for her.
